Saw Andersen's new double-pane windows with built-in shades at Home Depot yesterday...kinda neat but also seems like one more thing that could break, you know? Curious if anyone actually prefers these over regular blinds or curtains. Quick poll:
A) Love em, super convenient
B) Meh, unnecessary gadget
C) Never tried em but interested
D) Nah, traditional blinds all the way
I'd probably go with option C myself...they do look pretty slick, but I can't shake the feeling that it's just another fancy thing that could break down the line. I mean, regular blinds are annoying enough when they get tangled or stuck—imagine dealing with that when they're sealed inside your window. On the other hand, I guess you'd never have to dust them again, which is a definite plus for lazy homeowners like me, haha.
Anyone here actually had these installed for a while? Curious how they hold up after a few years of daily use. Also wondering if they help much with insulation or if that's just marketing fluff.
I've been wondering about these myself. My sister-in-law had them installed about three years ago when they remodeled their kitchen. At first, she was all excited about never having to dust blinds again (she's definitely in the "lazy homeowner" club too, haha). But last time I visited, she mentioned one of the built-in shades had gotten stuck halfway down. Apparently, it was a huge hassle because you can't exactly just pop open the window and fix it yourself. They had to call someone out to repair it, and it wasn't cheap.
On the insulation front, she did say they seemed to help a bit with keeping the kitchen cooler in summer and warmer in winter, but nothing dramatic. Probably depends on your windows and climate more than anything else. Personally, I'm still skeptical—seems like one of those things that's great until something inevitably goes wrong.
I guess my main hesitation is: what happens if the company that makes them goes out of business or stops supporting that model? Are you just stuck with broken blinds sealed inside your window forever? Seems like a pretty big gamble for something that's mostly about convenience.
Has anyone else run into issues with repairs or replacements down the line? Curious if my sister-in-law's experience was just bad luck or if it's a common thing...